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Christmas

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Original poster

Presents for in-laws....any ideas?!

30 replies

walkingonair · 05/11/2010 14:31

Every year I have the same dilemma....what to buy the in-laws?.

Firstly there's my mother in law, she's not at all fashion conscious, doesn?t wear jewellery, has no hobbies, doesn?t drink, dislikes chocolate, doesn?t listen to music or watch very much TV or films.

My father in law is pretty much the same, though likes a drop of port and a jigsaw puzzle, however there is only so many times you can buy these!

Previous years I have wracked my brains for ideas and managed to come up with some lovely gifts, i.e. framed photos of the grandchildren, customised mouse-mats, L'ocitaine gift set, Chanel perfume, silk scarf, red letter day for theatre and meal, home-made food hamper, a made to order jigsaw puzzle of their home on a map!

Trouble is they always seem underwhelmed with whatever we get them and I get frustrated with myself for spending so much time and money on gifts that aren?t really appreciated!

They on the other hand give us money in a card as our main present (which I think is a little thoughtless), and then a bag of small stocking fillers. Last year we had a square yellow sponge to wash the car with, a large pack of extra strong mints and a snow globe?!

I?ve tried asking but to no avail?.... any ideas or suggestion? I?m sure i?m not alone with this common dilemma!

OP posts:
JiggeryFawkesery · 05/11/2010 14:33

Leave it to your dp/h?

loler · 05/11/2010 14:38

I'm with you - if left with dh they would have nothing and I would have guilt so can't do it.

This year I've found these keyrings - they also do cufflinks. I got mil a fleece short top/dressing gown thing from M&S. I also do a family photo calendar from photobox (do it for myself really but get them a copy) - we won't even have a mention of the presents so not sure why I bother!

scurryfunge · 05/11/2010 14:40

I send a hamper.

taffetacat · 05/11/2010 14:48

What about an event? Theatre trip or tea at a nice hotel or something. What do they like to do in their spare time?

Aviendha · 05/11/2010 15:00

Matching jumpers and slippers.

Original poster
walkingonair · 05/11/2010 15:22

Love the key rings and cufflinks idea!

Already given a hamper and theatre tickets in previous years. (not convinced they enjoyed as didnt say very much!)

They dont seem to have many interests. They go to Church twice a week and holiday at their house in France and thats it really.

My DH is useless at present buying so not much help! Also they live 3 hours away so we dont see them very often which makes present buying more difficult.

OP posts:
MackerelOfFact · 05/11/2010 15:45

I'd probably just get some boring but functional gifts, eg. gloves, vase, letter-writing set, teapot, that sort of thing. They don't sound like present people full stop, so I guess nothing is really going to blow them away - just go for inoffensive and functional! If they don't speak French then maybe something like this might be handy but presumably they do.

Original poster
walkingonair · 05/11/2010 15:53

You've hit the nail on the head - nothing is likely to blow them away, but i do like your idea of a translator. They speak a little French, but always good to have a helping hand :)

OP posts:
MNTotoro · 05/11/2010 16:21

Afternoon tea experience voucher. They can pick the venue from lots listed, and they last a year.

loler · 05/11/2010 17:01

where do you get afternoon vouchers from?

My additional problem is ILs live in Isle of Man so most experiences/vouchers etc don't cover that area! They would prefer several pints in a pub voucher though.

I did a Tesco order to be delivered one year (party delivered to them) - didn't even ring to say thank you, so different from my family.

MNTotoro · 05/11/2010 18:29

I just ordered afternoon tea voucher from Next Experience Days. It had a list of locations. You could try lastminute.com too

minipen · 05/11/2010 18:37

Could you ring a restaurant near where they live for a voucher, we have found (For the grandparents age late 80's) small places will usually arrange something or arrange a meal for them and ring up & pay on your card?

I don't think from what you have said you are going to find anything which will amaze them!

GypsyMoth · 05/11/2010 18:42

Magazine subscription?

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 05/11/2010 18:44

Family photo in a frame - if you can take on yourself and print it out/take it to a photoshop to print might not be so expensive.

That's what the olds in my family are getting this year.

Eddas · 05/11/2010 20:03

Do they like their garden and wildlife? Last year I bought my Dad/Step mother a bug house as they're tricky to buy for. I'm not really sure what they thought of it. Step mother always goes ott so she 'loved it' of course but I think if I bought her a toothbrush she'd have given me the same responseGrin Dad thought it was a bird house and started telling me they weren't allowed a bird boxHmm not sure why

You could also get a gardening mag subscription if they do like gardens.

Sorry if they don't like gardeningGrin

CherryRocketMonster · 05/11/2010 20:17

how about a book of gorgeous churches to visit in the uk? most of them will have a description of the history.

Original poster
walkingonair · 05/11/2010 20:55

sprinkledust and Eddas, I like the idea of a magazine subscription, i'll ask DH what they'd read. Not sure they're into gardening judging by the limited number of plants and flowers in their garden :).

CherryRocketMonster - I personally love books, but thinking about it, they dont seem to have any books in their house? hmm, but certainly one to think about?...

We got them a red letter day, a few years ago for the Theatre. Tea or a meal would be nice :)

All good suggestions, keep em coming!... :o

OP posts:
maryz · 05/11/2010 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QuoththeRaven · 05/11/2010 22:14

for your mil, how about a nice purse? apparently (or so ive been told) its bad luck to buy your own. pop a voucher into it for somewhere inoffensive like boots or debhenams

for your fil, a birdhouse? book vouchers? you can get jigsaw puzzles of a family photo that he might enjoy. think tesco do them (or anywhere that does photo gifts)

Stardown · 05/11/2010 23:29

Every man in my family has always been very happy with a really nice fountain pen. Boring to my eyes, but (especially for the older men) they love it. Maybe a thought? Personalised stationery for each of them?

SevenAgainstThebes · 05/11/2010 23:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
walkingonair · 07/11/2010 00:11

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, I have some great ideas now!

SevenAgainstThebes - Your probably right the obligation to please is probably coming from me, though to be honest they are the type of people that would comment to the rest of the family if we were to get them something they didnt want; they're a funny couple like that Confused

I love buying gifts for my side of the family, they're much easier to please and always very appreciative!!

OP posts:
Scuttlebutter · 07/11/2010 22:31

Gosh, this sounds tough. To be honest, they don't sound like it is a big deal to them and really aren't looking for big gift. How about a copy of the Good Pub Guide if they like going out? Or the Good Food Guide (I think itis called) which lists nice pubs for food/restaurants?

As they are Christian, perhaps a book such as a Directory of Retreats, or a biography of someone who is/was a prominent Christian. I might also go for a CD of some religious music - there are often beautiful CDs around at Christmas of carols, or chants, or medieval music, which they can appreciate the spiritual side of.

How about some nice personalised stationary? You could include some notelets, writing paper and stamps - these days, there are some gorgeous ones around and not too expensive. This is also useful as I defy anyone not to be able to use these regularly. Those little stickers you can put on envelopes are often helpful too with the return address on.

As they travel regularly to France, how about some travel adaptors, a currency converter or some travel accessories? A guidebook or maps of France for the area they go to regularly? A membership of the French equivalent of the National Trust (if there is such a thing??).

Membership of a club or society? E.g. local history society, University of the Third Age, local ramblers, local wildlife trust etc. etc.

xayuk · 08/11/2010 06:59

What about giving a nice christmas decoration to mother -in-law and a pair of cufflinks or a watch to father-in-law?
For ideas I found out these two sites which I really liked. One of the sites is about groomsmen gifts but it still gives ideas what we can give men as a present!

www.squidoo.com/Christmas_Decoration_Ideas
www.squidoo.com/WeddingGroomsmenGifts

zipzap · 08/11/2010 14:49

what about national trust membership? There are some cashback sites that have it on offer (or did last xmas) so you can get it relatively cheaply even though it looks more expensive and is something that also lasts a year anad would give them something to do...

you could always try asking them if there is anything they want or need as you are off xmas shopping soon and see what they say! You can always say that you have asked your dh but he didn't have any ideas as to what they wanted and you wanted to get them something that they would like. Then at least you get brownie points for being thoughtful and asking, even if they do want something boring.

have a look through the lakeland gift catalogue, they always have lots of things that look like they should appeal to PIL, (that sounds harsh as there are things in there I like myself, it's just i have found it useful for finding presents for my mil too!)